Soap-holder



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. P. IRISH.

SOAP HOLDER.

Patented Nov. 23,1897.

( No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. F. IRISH.

SOAP HOLDER.

No. 594,086. Patented Nov, 23,1897.

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UNITED STATESv PATENT Fries.

RICHARD FREDERICK IRISH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOAP-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,086, dated November 23, 1897.

Application filed April 14, 1897.

To all whom it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD FREDERICK IRISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, (Roxbury) in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have 'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soap-Holders and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to holders for soap and other articles of toilet, and more-particularly to such holders as are designed to be arranged in convenient proximity to the wash basin or bowl of lavatories, bathrooms, and similar compartments in hotels, railway-stations, and'other public and private places.

The object of my invention is to provide a soap-holder of simple construction, and consequently low first cost, which will automatically retract the soap from the basin, tub, or other receptacle and elevate the same to a position where it may drain and may be cond .veniently reached by the user when required.

My invention consists in the features, details of construction, and combination of parts, which will iirst be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of a washstand provided with a soap-holder embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation,on an enlarged scale,of the soapholde'r, partly in section, showing` the same when not in use; Fig. 3, a similar View showv ing the soap in position for use; Fig. 4, a central section, on a still larger scale, through the soap and soap-holder proper. Fig. 4f is a detail sectional view of a soap-holder having the inner walls of the thimble slightly tapered and provided with a vent; Fig. 5, a detail view of a somewhat-modified holder. v

Referring to the drawings, it will be 0bserved that a hollow standard or gooseneck A is arranged at the side of the bowl or basin B of the washstand B. This standard is in the shape of an inverted J, and its lower end is secured to the washstand B, for example, by screwing it into the hole which ordinarily serves for the attachment of the chain which carries the waste-pipe plug. This chain may Serial No. 632,155. (No model.)

then be held in place by a ring encircling the lower portion of the standard A.

Through the hollow standard A passes the suspending device C, consisting of a chain in the present instance. This chain vis provided at the end belowvthe lower end of the stand.- ard A with a weight D, which constantly tends 4to draw that end of the chain down. The other end of the chain, which issues from the mouth of the standard, which forms the point from which the soap is usually sus; pended, is connected to the holder proper, E, as shown. This holder proper consists of a screw-threaded spindle e, adapted to partly penetrate into the body of the soap F. The upper Iportion of the spindleeis provided with the annular downwardly extending flange or thimble e', which, when the spindle has been screwed home to its full extent into the cake of soap F, will clamp an annular tongue f or section of the soap between its side walls and the spindle. This I have found in practice enhances the grasping effect of the holder proper, which effect maybe increased by slightly tapering the inner walls of the thimble, as shown at e2 in Fig. 4ta. Avent e3 might also'be formed in the thimble to allow the air to escape as the thimble enters the soap. (See Fig. 4a.)

The above construction of the soap-holder proper, E, enables the same to be used in connection with the usual thin cakes of soap in such a way that it passes into the soap parallel to the broad faces of the cake without danger of splitting the same.

It will be noted that under my invention the thimble e is arranged on the spindle, so that the part of the same which enters the soap is below the thiInble-that is, it extends y from the concave side of the thimble. This construction enables the ent-ire `holder to be made in one piece and very simple in form, and yet gives it all the efliciency of entering into and holding the soap that is found in more complicated constructions.

The use of the soap-holder thus described is obvious from the foregoing.

When it is desired to use the soap, it is grasped and drawn down against the force of the weight D, which, as the soap is pulled down into the basinl in the position indicated in Fig. 3, rises from its normal position, Fig.

IOO

2, to its upper position, Fig. 3. The fact that the suspending device or chain C is loose within the hollow standard A permits the soap F to be turned readily and Without effort into all the positions required for use. There is no tendency of the chain becoming kinked or snarled, as it will readily revolve within the standard in response to any twisting motion. As soon as the soap F is released it is automatically retracted to its elevated position (indicated in Fig. 3) by the weight I). In this position it remains suspended over the basin B, so that all the water remainingr on its surface will be drained into the said basin and will not drip upon the adjacent portions of the washstand. The said washstand will thus be kept neat in appearance and the soap at the same time will be kept dry by perfect drainage and the action of the air, which surrounds it on all sides.

A further advantage flowing from my invention as thus disclosed is that it involves great simplicity of construction. There is no liability of any of the parts getting out of order, and if deranged, injured, or worn they are easily and cheaply repaired. The working parts are, moreover, out of the way and completely concealed. They cannot, hence, bel

injured or tampered with and do not detract from the appearance of the washstand with which they are used.

The thimble e serves to prevent the water from gradually dissolving away the soap around the threaded spindle E and thus loosening its hold on the soap. This is a prominent advantage, as it permits the use of so simple a device as a screw-spindle to serve as an effective holder and to be attached to any ordinary cake of soap without an yA special preparation of the same or the use of speciallyadapted tools. f

No skill whatever is required to apply this holder,while at the same time it is of the simplest construction conceivable.

I have found by experience that this holder will retain its grip on the soap until it is worn down to a mere fragment.

If desired, for exau1ple,when the lower p0rtion of the washstand is open, I may secure a depending tube or sleeve D below the lower end of the standard A, wherein the weight D is guided and incased. This sleeve D may be screwed onto the said lower end CZ, which is threaded, as shown. The said sleeve may then serve the additional function of a nut, which, in connection with the shoulder el', se-

cured to the standard A, serves to clamp said standard in position on the Washstand B.

While I have described my invention as applied to soap, it should be observed that the same is applicable wholly or partly to other detergent and toilet articles which it is desirable to have suspended in proximity to washstands.

From the above it will be noted that my in-V vention may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the same. I do not, therefore, desire to be confined to the construction and arrangements shown and4 described.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a soap-holder, the combination with a tubular gooseneck, and a lavatory to which said gooseneck is attached, of a flexible snspending device connected to the soap and movable within the tubular gooseneck, and a weight secured to one end of the flexible suspending device and below the upper surface of the lavatory, said weight being arranged to withdraw automatically the soap from the lavatory, substantially as described.

2. In a soap-holder the combination, with a lavatory, and a tubular gooseneck secured to the lavatory,of a tubular guide-sleeve secured to the lower end of the said gooseneck, a ilexible suspending device for the soap, arranged partly within the gooseneck, and a weight movable within the tubular guide-sleeve and arranged to withdraw the soap from the lavatory, substantially as described.

3. Ina soap-holder, the combination,with a lavatory and a gooseneck having its lower end threaded and projecting below the upper surface of said lavatory, said gooseneck having` a shoulder resting upon said lavatory, of a tu- 

